Bootcamp: NLP tools for Syriac, 17–18 January 2019

Due to the overwhelming response, we reached the maximum of participants even long before the registration deadline and have to close the registration for this event.

In the CLARIAH funded project “LinkSyr: Linking Syriac Data”, the Eep Talstra Centre for Bible and Computer (ETCBC) has developed various tools for processing Syriac texts, from establishing the text by OCR, through morphological parsing to identify lexemes, up to content analysis through topic modelling techniques and Linked Data. The project has extended its scope to included geographical and liturgical data in the Pelagios Resource Development project Linking Syriac Geographic Data and the DANS-funded project Linking Syriac Liturgies.

We want to share our experiences and tools with anyone who is interested in programming and the Syriac language. If you are interested in our project, take a look around at our GitHub repository. The bootcamp will include both a general introduction into our tools (afternoon session of Day 1), and hands-on sessions in which people can focus on texts and topics of their own interest (in the morning session of Day 2). Experience with Python is recommended. Since the tools have been developed in the broader context of our work on Digital Humanities and Ancient Languages, the bootcamp will also be valuable for those working on Hebrew, Aramaic or other ancient (Semitic) languages or those working on later forms of Aramaic and Syriac.

Participation is free, as long as the participants quotum is not exceeded, but registration is required. The deadline is 1 November 2018.Please register here.

There is also a limited number of grants for travel and accommodation available. If you want to apply for that, send your motivation letter and CV to w.t.van.peursen@vu.nl before 15 October 2018. Indicate whether you apply for travel costs, accommodation or both.